Degrees of Comparison (Positive, Comparative, Superlative)
Degrees of Comparison (Positive, Comparative, Superlative) MCQ Questions
7.
"Of the three boys, John is the ___."
Approach
This question tests knowledge of degrees of adjectives, specifically comparative and superlative forms. The key is to identify how many items are being compared.
Step-by-step
- Identify the number of items being compared: The phrase "Of the three boys" clearly indicates that there are three individuals (John and two others) being compared.
- Recall rules for degrees of adjectives:
- The positive degree (e.g., 'tall') is used when describing one item or when no comparison is made.
- The comparative degree (e.g., 'taller') is used when comparing exactly two items.
- The superlative degree (e.g., 'tallest') is used when comparing three or more items, indicating the highest degree among them.
- Apply the rule to the context: Since three boys are being compared, the superlative degree of the adjective 'tall' is required. The superlative form of 'tall' is 'tallest'.
Correct Option: C) tallest
Incorrect Options
- A) tall — This is the positive degree and is used when describing one person or object, or when no comparison is being made. It is incorrect because a comparison among three boys is clearly implied.
- B) taller — This is the comparative degree and is used when comparing exactly two people or objects. Since there are three boys, this form is inappropriate.
- D) most tall — While 'most' is used for the superlative degree of some longer adjectives (e.g., 'most beautiful'), 'tall' is a short adjective that forms its superlative by adding '-est'. Therefore, 'most tall' is grammatically incorrect.
8.
"Iron is ___ than cotton."
Approach
This question tests knowledge of degrees of comparison in English grammar, specifically comparative adjectives. We need to choose the correct form of the adjective "heavy" to compare iron and cotton.
Step-by-step
- Identify the comparison: The sentence compares two items: "Iron" and "cotton." This indicates that a comparative degree of an adjective is required.
- Recall degrees of comparison: Adjectives have three degrees: positive (e.g., heavy), comparative (e.g., heavier), and superlative (e.g., heaviest).
- Apply the rule for comparison: When comparing two things, the comparative form of the adjective is used. The word "than" in the sentence also signals a comparative structure.
- Form the comparative of "heavy": The comparative form of the adjective "heavy" is "heavier."
- Complete the sentence: Therefore, the correct sentence is "Iron is heavier than cotton."
Correct Option: C) heavier
Incorrect Options
- A) heavy — This is the positive degree of the adjective. It is used when describing a single item or when no comparison is being made (e.g., "Iron is heavy."). It is not appropriate for comparing two items.
- B) heaviest — This is the superlative degree of the adjective. It is used when comparing three or more items and indicating which one possesses the quality to the highest degree (e.g., "Iron is the heaviest metal."). It is incorrect for comparing only two items.
- D) most heavy — While "most" is used for the superlative degree of some longer adjectives (e.g., "most beautiful"), "heavy" is a two-syllable adjective ending in 'y'. For such adjectives, the comparative is formed by changing 'y' to 'i' and adding '-er' (heavier), and the superlative by changing 'y' to 'i' and adding '-est' (heaviest). "Most heavy" is grammatically incorrect.
9.
Which sentence is in positive degree?
A.
She is brighter than Mary
ANSWER :
C. She is bright
Approach
This question tests understanding of degrees of adjectives: positive, comparative, and superlative. The task is to identify the sentence that uses an adjective in its positive degree.
Step-by-step
- Recall the definitions of the degrees of adjectives:
- Positive Degree: Describes a quality without comparison (e.g., bright, tall, happy).
- Comparative Degree: Compares two things (e.g., brighter, taller, happier). Often uses "-er" or "more...than".
- Superlative Degree: Compares three or more things and indicates the highest or lowest degree of a quality (e.g., brightest, tallest, happiest). Often uses "-est" or "most..." and is preceded by "the".
- Analyze each option based on these definitions.
Correct Option: C) She is bright
In this sentence, the adjective "bright" describes the subject "She" without making any comparison. This is the definition of the positive degree.
Incorrect Options
- A) She is brighter than Mary — This sentence uses "brighter," which is the comparative degree of "bright." It compares "She" with "Mary."
- B) She is the brightest — This sentence uses "brightest," which is the superlative degree of "bright." It implies that "She" possesses the highest degree of brightness among a group.
- D) None — Since option C is correct, this option is incorrect.
10.
Which is the comparative of "little"?
Approach
This question tests knowledge of degrees of comparison for adjectives. We need to identify the comparative form of the adjective "little".
Step-by-step
- Adjectives have three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
- The positive degree describes a quality without comparison (e.g., "little").
- The comparative degree compares two things (e.g., "less" or "smaller").
- The superlative degree compares three or more things and indicates the highest or lowest degree of a quality (e.g., "least" or "smallest").
- For the adjective "little", the comparative form is "less".
- The superlative form of "little" is "least".
Correct Option: A) Less
"Less" is the correct comparative form of the adjective "little". For example, "I have little money" (positive), "I have less money than you" (comparative), "I have the least money of all" (superlative).
Incorrect Options
- B) Lest — "Lest" is a conjunction meaning "for fear that" or "in order to prevent something". It is not a degree of comparison for "little".
- C) Least — "Least" is the superlative form of "little", not the comparative form.
- D) Littelest — "Littelest" is not a valid English word. The superlative form is "least".
11.
"This road is ___ than the old one."
Approach
The question requires us to choose the correct comparative form of the adjective "narrow" to complete the sentence. The presence of "than" indicates a comparison between two things (the current road and the old one), necessitating the use of a comparative adjective.
Step-by-step
- Identify the comparison: The sentence "This road is ___ than the old one" clearly indicates a comparison between "this road" and "the old one." The word "than" is a key indicator of a comparative structure.
- Recall degrees of adjectives: Adjectives have three degrees: positive (e.g., narrow), comparative (e.g., narrower), and superlative (e.g., narrowest).
- Apply the correct degree: Since two items are being compared, the comparative degree of the adjective is required.
- Form the comparative of "narrow": For most one-syllable adjectives, the comparative form is created by adding "-er" to the base form. Thus, the comparative of "narrow" is "narrower."
Therefore, the sentence should read: "This road is narrower than the old one."
Correct Option:
B) narrower — This is the correct comparative form of the adjective "narrow," which is required when comparing two things (the current road and the old one) as indicated by the word "than."
Incorrect Options
- A) narrow — This is the positive degree of the adjective. It is used when describing a single item without comparison, or in an equative comparison (e.g., "as narrow as"). It is not appropriate with "than."
- C) narrowest — This is the superlative degree of the adjective. It is used when comparing three or more items and indicating the one that possesses the quality to the highest degree (e.g., "the narrowest road of all"). It is not appropriate for comparing only two items.
- D) most narrow — While "most" is used to form the superlative of some longer adjectives (e.g., "most beautiful"), it is not used with short adjectives like "narrow." The correct superlative for "narrow" is "narrowest." Even if it were a valid superlative form, it would still be incorrect in this sentence because only two items are being compared.
12.
"That was the ___ speech of the event."
ANSWER :
C. most powerful
Approach
The question requires us to choose the correct degree of comparison for the adjective "powerful" to complete the sentence appropriately. The presence of the definite article "the" before the blank indicates that a superlative degree of comparison is needed.
Step-by-step
- Identify the keyword: The word "the" precedes the blank.
- Understand the role of "the": In English grammar, "the" is typically used before a superlative adjective to indicate that something is unique or stands out as the highest degree among a group.
- Recall degrees of comparison:
- Positive degree: Describes a quality without comparison (e.g., powerful).
- Comparative degree: Compares two things (e.g., more powerful).
- Superlative degree: Compares three or more things and indicates the highest degree (e.g., most powerful).
- Apply to the sentence: The sentence implies that this particular speech was superior to all other speeches at the event, making it the highest degree of powerfulness. Therefore, the superlative form is required.
- Form the superlative: For adjectives with two or more syllables (like "powerful"), the superlative is formed by adding "most" before the adjective.
Correct Option:
C) most powerful — This is the superlative form of the adjective "powerful" and correctly follows the definite article "the" to indicate the highest degree of comparison among all speeches at the event.
Incorrect Options
- A) more powerful — This is the comparative degree, used when comparing two things (e.g., "This speech was more powerful than the previous one."). It is incorrect here because "the" implies a superlative comparison among many.
- B) powerful — This is the positive degree, used when no comparison is being made (e.g., "It was a powerful speech."). It is grammatically incorrect in this context because "the" requires a comparative or superlative adjective.
- D) powerfuller — This is an incorrect formation. The suffix "-er" is typically used for forming the comparative degree of short adjectives (e.g., taller, stronger). For multi-syllable adjectives like "powerful," "more" is used for the comparative, and "most" for the superlative. "Powerfuller" is not a recognized English word.
